[dragonwriter]

> I pay nearly 48% tax to state federal and city, and it does significant damage for my ability to grow in the Bay Area.

Its possible to reach that total tax rate, though even if you manage to have no dependents or other sources of deductions, credits, etc., it takes a lot of income, even for the Bay Area (like, the kind where you could, after those taxes, meet reasonable living expenses and buy a new Bay Area home, without selling the last one, for cash every decade or so.)

> There is no room to be taxed more

The maximum combined federal, state, and city taxes on income (including income and payroll taxes at all levels) in San Francisco is lower than the maximum federal income tax alone in the period of the US most rapid aggregate growth (and also the most rapid relative growth of the middle class.)

[ams6110]

During that time there were many more tax shelters. Even interest on personal debt like car loans was deductible.